USE OF INFORMATION AND COMPUTERS BY EASTERN CAPE DAIRY FARMERS

A survey conducted amongst 26 dairy farmers in the Eastern Cape was aimed at determining their sources and costs of information, and use of computers. Respondents spent an average of R1336 per year on information sources and rated financial consultants and own farm records highest for usefulness in decisions. A regression analysis revealed the following factors to be important in influencing the use of consultants: The farmers' perceived value of own farm records in production decisions; self-rating of management skills in overall farm management; computer use; degree of farm diversification; off-farm investment, and farmer's age. Of the respondents, 73.percent used computers in their farm business. Computers were rated as 'providing better information' and 'saved time' compared to 'hand' records. Preparing financial statements and farm planning were the most highly rated applications of the computer. A multivariate logit analysis suggested the following factors to have a significant impact on computer use: Self-rating of skills in financial management; debt-asset ratio of the business; rating of own farm records, and the relative willingness of the farmer to take risks